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17 August 2008

A 3 x 5 greeting from Mother Nature

I was walking on my driveway today when I spotted an amazing Luna Moth with wings like a marbled paper. She blended in with the mossy stone wall. The markings on her wings looked like eyes. Across the top of her five-inch wings her feathered coloration looks like a twig. Adaptation in nature never ceases to amaze me with its ingenious beauty.

LUNA CLOSEUP


Her body was like a long, white cotton puff that glowed through her translucent wings.
LUNA BODY


Although Lunas are common, they are rarely seen, living only 1 week, during which they don't eat. They live only to mate. She'll rest until it is night, giving off pheromones to attract a male. She'll mate with him for 4 hours.

LUNA ON WALL, RESTING UP FOR THE BIG NIGHT


Maybe the short life of a moth isn't so bad: beauty & pleasure. Okay, so I'm anthropomorphizing a bit, but just try to tell me that she isn't beautiful!

2 comments:

Kay Cooke said...

She is very beautiful - love what you have writen too!

Anonymous said...

That's fascinating! I had to call my husband in from the other room to share this with him. And I love your photos.